HANDILING OF RAILS

HANDLING OF HIGHER UTS RAILS

Higher UTS rails (90 UTS and above) are
sensitive to handling and require special
precautions to avoid damage.
 The guidelines and instructions in this
regard are given in a tabulated statement in
the form of “Avoid “and “Ensure” as per
Railway Board letter no. Track/21/88/0908/7,
dated 30.10.2006.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 2

 Item Avoid/Ensure Guideline

1. Protection of Avoid 1. Heavy static

loading and
Straightness sudden impact
2. Single point
slinging
3. End drop and
flange overlap or
crossing of rails
4. Localized point or
line contact when
stacking

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 3

 1. Protection of Straightness
Ensure 1. Two point slinging for rails up to
13m length. Increase slinging
point at a rate of 1 per 6.5m.
2. Rails are kept horizontal and
straight as far as possible while
lifting, carrying or stacking.
3. Provide suitable
dunnage/spacer to protect rails
against point contact.
4. Rails of same length are
stacked on a firm level base
providing uniform support.
Successive layers may be of
the same or decreasing width
for stacking of unequal length of
rails.
5. Subsequent layers should be
separated with uniformly
placed, suitable spacers or
dunnage in vertical alignment
with the base supports.
6. Rails ends are protected.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 4

 2. Protection of rail Avoid 1. Impact or abrasion of
surface rails and rail bundles
against structure,
buildings, hatches,
wagons, vehicles etc.
2. Crossing or flange
overlap while stacking
or making rail
bundles.
3. Any rail support,
handling or clamping
device and rail pinch
rollers which apply
localized or point
contact to the rail.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 5

 [Link] of Avoid All heating, flame
Metallurgicall cutting, welding and
damage spot welding during
rail handling or
transit.

Ensure Protection of rail from

electric arc from
adjacent cables or
molten metal
splashes from nearby
welding operations.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 6

 4. Protection from Avoid Contact with
contact with injurious
injurious substances such as
substances acids, alkalis, salts,
fertilizers,
sulphates, chlorides
and nitrates.
Ensure Rail stock piles should
be built on a well-
drained base
substance as per
drawing no RDSO/T-
6219

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 7

 [Link] danger Avoid 1. Standing under
to personnel suspended rails
2. Sudden dropping
or impact of rails
3. Bundle strapping
for lifting slinging
or handling of
rails
4. Contact with rails

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 8

 [Link] danger Ensure 1. Steel toe-capped
to personnel protective
footwear is used.
2. Distinct coloured
helmets and
clothing are used
for case of
identification and
location of
personnel while
working with
machine or crane.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 9

 [Link] Ensure [Link]
danger to protective gloves
personnel and clothing to
reduce risk of
skin abrasion
and laceration
and extremes of
temperature.

[Link] working in
the vicinity of
electrical
conductors and
wirings..

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 10

 6. Stacking Avoid 1. Overlapping of
rail flanges.
2. Crossing of
layers when
dunnage is
used.
3. Lean stack by
placing rail
ends (rails of
the same
length) in
vertical
alignment.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 11

 6. Stacking Ensure 1. Stacking of rails on
proper concrete base and
supports as per RDSO/T-
6219.
2. Stacking of rails of same
length.
3. Shorter rails should be
placed in upper layers so
that each successive
layer is of same or
decreasing width.
4. Good vertical alignment
of dunnage or spacer in
the complete stack
should be done by
placing them in the
identical positions along
the rail length.
5. Use of suitable rail
handling equipment such
as electromagnetic lifting
devices, rail grips etc.

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 12

 Slinging Arrangements (Lifting Points) for 90 UTS
and above is as per table below:
Rail length No. of lifting Distance Maximum rail
meters points between lifting and overhang
points(m) (m)
12-13m 2 6-6.5 3-3.25
18m 2 9.0 4.5
26m 4 6.5 3.25
39m 6 6.5 3.25
130m 20 6.5 3.25
260m 40 6.5 3.25
Slinging Arrangements

© KMRL 2016 Presentation Title 13